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Monday, February 28, 2011

AFTER SPENDING A NEAR HURRICANE STRENGTH NIGHT 1 BLOCK FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN CRESCENT BEACH, OREGON, I WAS OUT ON US 101 SOUTH BEFORE DAYLIGHT. WITH SPIA SAFE IN A RV CAMPGROUND, DECIDED TO EXTEND MY MORNING WALK TO AT LEAST THREE HOURS - 12 MILES.

NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AT THIS EARLY HOUR. WALKED 45 MINUTES ALONG THE OCEAN SURF...THEN US 101 STARTED TO CLIMB...AND CLIMB...AND CLIMB SOME MORE. REACHING THE TOP, CONTINUED ANOTHER HOUR ALONG A RATHER FLAT SUMMIT...THEN THE ROADWAY DROPPED FOR 2 MILES AT OVER 7 % DOWN GRADE.

i TURNED AROUND...HALFWAY BACK TO CRESCENT CITY, RECEIVED A RIDE FROM AN ELDERLY COUPLE, WHO DROPPED ME OFF NEAR SPIA ON US 101.

ABOUT HALF WAY UP THAT HILL - LATER I LEARNED IT IS CALLED "CRESCENT CITY HILL", MET FOR THE SECOND TIME, A YOUNG MAN AND HIS DOG. MET BOTH PLUS ANOTHER COMPANION LAST NIGHT DOWN IN CRESCENT CITY...THEY ARE HEADED FOR RENO, NEVADA.

THEY SPENT THE NIGHT CAMPED OFF US 101 IN THE FOREST. THIS MORNING, THEY SPLIT UP HOPING IT WOULD BE EASIER TO CATCH A RIDE.

THIS YOUNG MAN IS CALLED "EARTH"...HIS POOCH "REDWOOD".

TWO HOURS LATER, WHEN I WALKED BACK DOWN THE "HILL", EARTH AND REDWOOD WERE NOT TO BE FOUND...GUESS SOMEONE GAVE THEM A RIDE.

US 101, AT THIS PART OF CALIFORNIA, IS CALLED THE "REDWOOD HIGHWAY"

AT THE TOP OF CRESCENT CITY "HILL", MET THE SECOND YOUNG MAN, WHO HAD WALKED - BACKPACK AND ALL - TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND STILL NO RIDE.

A REDWOOD TREE I ESTIMATE TO BE CLOSE TO 10 FEET DIAMETER AND PERHAPS 200 FEET TALL.

STRUGGLING UP THE "HILL", WAS ENCOURAGED BY THIS SIGN...REMINDED ME OF THE HORSE AT CHRISTMAS AND THE OPTIMISTIC YOUNG BOY...I RECEIVED THE SAME RESULT...THIS WAS NOT YET HALF WAY UP THAT LONG STEEP HILL.

AN EVER LARGER REDWOOD TREE

THIS PHOTO IS FROM SPIA'S PARKING SPOT IN THE RV CAMP IN CRESCENT CITY, OREGON. THOSE DISTANT MOUNTAINS TURNED OUT TO BE THE "HILL" I WOULD CLIMB IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THEY ARE ABOUT 6 MILES AWAY.

AFTER RETURNING TO CRESCENT CITY AND EXPERIENCING THE PROPANE "FIX", DROVE SPIA TO THIS SPOT AT THE SOUTH BOTTOM OF THE MORNING "HILL", AND PARKED.

PROCEDED TO WALK BACK UP THAT HILL TO NEAR THE TOP AND RETURN TO SPIA.

ABOUT A MILE BEFORE REACHING SPIA, RECEIVED A RIDE FROM "ROB". ROB IS A MIDDLE AGE MAN FROM KANSAS, OUT TO VISIT HIS SISTER. HE IS LIVING WITH A TRANSPLANTED KIDNEY AND WAS ON HIS WAY 105 MILES TO HIS DIALYSES SESSION.

HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW KIDNEY, AND HAS LOCATED A "LIVE" DONNER. THE TRANSPLANT WILL TAKE PLACE SOON.

ASKED ROB TO DRIVE ON PAST SPIA FOR A FEW MILES AND I WOULD WALK BACK. NO PROBLEM ! ABOUT 4 MILES LATER, WE COME UPON MY GOAL FOR THE DAY, THE TREES OF MYSTERY...ROB STOPS AND LETS ME OUT.

SPIA'S PARKING PLACE AT THE SOUTH BOTTOM OF THE HILL. NOTICE THE WAVES SLAMMING INTO THOSE ROCKS...SPRAY IS LEAPING NEARLY 100 FEET INTO THE AIR.

AGAIN, MUST THANK MY PANASONIC CAMERA TO BE ABLE TO CATCH SUCH ACTION.

BEACH IN FRONT OF SPIA'S PARKING PLACE.

BEACH STROLLERS PASSING BY SPIA.

MY GOAL FOR THE NIGHT...THE TREES OF MYSTERY.

I HAVE DRIVEN PAST THE TREES OF MYSTERY AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE LAST 60 YEARS. I HAVE STOPPED AT LEAST 5 TIMES...BRINGING BACK A FLOOD OF MEMORIES.

PAUL BUNYAN GREET ALL NEW GUESTS TO THE TREE OF MYSTERY.

PAUL'S SIDEKICK, BABE, THE BLUE OX, WELCOMES EVERYONE ALSO.

TOGETHER, THEY MAKE FOR A HANDSOME COUPLE.

BABE IS HITCHED TO THIS MASSIVE MACHINE, WHICH LIFTS ONE END OF A CUT-DOWN REDWOOD TREE...BABE PULLS THE CART AND THE TREE OUT OF THE FOREST.

A VISITOR FOR SOMEWHERE...COME TO SEE WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT THE TREES OF MYSTERY.

TREES OF MYSTERY GIFT AND MUSEUM ...PLEASE NOTICE THE INDIAN ON THE HORSE...IT IS THE "TRADEMARK" KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.

THE MUSEUM, HOSTED BY LILA, IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATELY OWNED OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS. THE NEXT FEW PHOTOGRAPHS CAUGHT MY EYE.

CLICK CLICK TO READ THE INSCRIPTION...THIS IS A DRESS MADE FROM THE CEDAR TREE.

AN ESKIMO "INUIT" WATERPROOF HOODED CAPE, MADE FROM INTESTINE.

NEZ PIERCE BABY BACKPACK (FORGET THE TECHNICAL NAME).

YOU MAY RECALL THAT SACAJAWEA - OF LEWIS AND CLARK - WAS A PRINCESS OF THE NEZ PIERCE, TAKEN AS HOSTAGE BY PLAINS INDIANS DURING A RAID...

THIS IS THE WORLD-FAMOUS SCULPTURE TRADEMARK OF THE TREES OF MYSTERY.

IT IS CALLED "END OF THE TRAIL"

IT REPRESENTS THE FINAL DEFEAT OF NATIVE AMERICANS BY THE WHITE MAN...THE OBLITERATION OF AMERICAN INDIANS BY LITERALLY PUSHING THEM OFF NORTH AMERICA INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

TREES OF MYSTERY, KLAMATH, CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOP MUSEUM CONTAINS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS OF TRIBES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. LILA - AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TREES OF MYSTERY, MUSEUM AND I ENJOYED A LENGTHY CONVERSATION. LILA IS 77, A NATIVE OF OXNARD, CALIFORNIA, WHO WAS UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, BED RIDDEN WITH BACK PROBLEMS. AFTER YEARS OF MEDICATIONS - SHE BECAME ADDICTED -, LILA DISCOVERED A SURGEON IN MEDFORD, OREGON WHO OPERATED AND INSISTED SHE BEGIN A REGULAR PROGRAM OF "WALKING"

HUSBAND AT HER SIDE, LILA STRUGGLED TO REACH THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. THEN TWO HOUSES DOWN...UNTIL NOT LONG AFTER, SHE WAS WALKING 3 MILES A DAY.

TODAY, LILA IS ON HER FEET ALL DAY AND ROMPING UP STAIRS... PLANNING A BICYCLE RIDE FAR BEYOND HER HOME...HUSBAND IS ENCOURAGING HER...IN FACT, IS PLANNING TO DRIVE AS LILA'S CHASE CAR.

LILA AGREES...THE DECISION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CONDITION OR SITUATION IS BY FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF GETTING IT DONE...AFTER A TOTAL COMMITMENT, THE DOING IS THE EASY PART.

NO VERIZON SIGNAL AT TREES OF MYSTERY. LUCKY TO GET LILA'S PIC POSTED.

NEW SUBJECT: DISCOVERED THIS MORNING THE REASON FOR MY UNEASINESS THAT I WAS MISSING SOMETHING...FOUND IT !

DROPPED IN AT THE CRESCENT CITY PROPANE COMPANY FOR AN INSPECTION. SERVICE MAN IMMEDIATELY SAID SPIA'S PROPANE TANK WAS THE WRONG TANK AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO WAKE UP MORNINGS.

SPIA'S TANK IS A "HORIZONTAL" TANK INSTALLATION. THE TANK INSTALLED IS A "VERTICAL" TANK. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE INTERNAL DESIGN OF THE PIPING TO DRAW OFF THE PROPANE VAPORS (APPLIANCES RUN ON PROPANE VAPORS...NOT ON LIQUID PROPANE) IF LIQUID PROPANE GETS INTO THE BURNERS, IT CAUSES ERRATIC INCOMPLETE BURNING OF THE PROPANE, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE FLAME TO GO OUT COMPLETELY...LETTING PROPANE INTO THE ENCLOSED ROOM...WHICH SOMETIMES "KILLS".

LIQUID PROPANE IS MINUS 40 DEGREES F. (-40F.). AS IT WARMS, IT CHANGES FROM A LIQUID TO A "VAPOR". A "VERTICAL TANK" COLLECT THE VAPOR IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. A "HORIZONTAL TANK" COLLECTS THE VAPOR ON THE SIDE OF THE TANK.

A SIGN OF AN INCORRECT TANK IS "FREEZING" OF THE REGULATOR AND HOSES LEADING FROM THE BOTTLE...EXACTLY WHAT SPIA WAS EXPERIENCING...AND NO PREVIOUS PROPANE DEALER COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT "LIQUID" PROPANE IS GETTING INTO THE REGULATOR WHICH INSTANTLY FREEZES ON THE OUTSIDE. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED, INCOMPLETE BURNING CAN ALLOW PROPANE GAS INTO THE HOME (MOTOR HOME), WITH POTENTIAL DEATH TO ANYONE BREATHING IT IN...EXACTLY WHAT SPIA WAS EXPERIENCING.

KNOWING NOTHING OF PROPANE OR ANY OF THE ABOVE, MY SUBCONSCIOUS WAS WARNING ME THAT I WAS MISSING SOMETHING...

CURIOUS HOW SUCH THINGS HAPPEN.

SO NOW, THE VERTICAL TANK IS REMOVED AND MY 3-GALLON BACKUP TANK IS ON LINE.

AFTER ALL THAT, HOPE TO BE HERE IN THE MORNING.

VERIZON KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN, SO MUST STOP FOR NOW. WILL COMPLETE THIS POST WHEN WE MOVE TO A SPOT WHERE WE HAVE A BETTER SIGNAL.

AFTER SPENDING A GOOD POTION OF MY AFTERNOON IN THE GIFT SHOP AND MUSEUM OF THE TREES OF MYSTERY, I WALKED BACK TO SPIA.

MANAGEMENT OF TREES OF MYSTERY HAVE POSTED "NO OVERNIGHT PARKING". tHEY WERE EXTRA KIND TO SPIA, SAM & ME, ALLOWING US TO PARK UNDER THE PROTECTION OF PAUL BUNYAN AND BABE, THE BLUE OX, FOR THE NIGHT.

ABOUT 9:30 PM, A KNOCK ON SPIA'S DOOR PRESENTED THE LOCAL SHERIFF, WHO WAS JUST CHECKING THAT I WAS OK...AND ALLOWING ME TO RUN SPIA'S GENERATOR IF I WISHED (GENERATORS ARE ALSO NOT ALLOWED).

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME NEW FRIENDS AT THE TREES OF MYSTERY.

MORE ON THAT TOMORROW.

DAILY REPORT: WALKED 22 MILES - COUNT 18 MILES FOR THE DAY.

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG; CREDIT 18 MILES @ $0.02 PER DAY = $0.36 FOR THE DAY

TOMORROW, WILL WALK SOUTH ON 101. UPON RETURNING, PLAN TO VISIT THE TRAILS OF THE TREES OF MYSTERY, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH, I BELIEVE, WILL BE OF MORE THAN PASSING INTEREST.

CALIFORNIA WATER DRAIN ALONG US 101...NEVER BEFORE HAVE I SEEN SUCH A DESIGN. SOMEONE WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO CONSTRUCT AN EXCELLENT AND NICE LOOKING ROADSIDE DRAIN.

AN ELEGANT TREE STANDING ALONE NEXT TO US 101 IN CALIFORNIA.

ALONG ABOUT HERE, I MET A "WALKER" WITH BACKPACK HEADING NORTH ON US 101...CAN YOU LOAN ME SOMETHING FOR A COFFEE?? SORRY, BUT I HAVE NO $$ WITH ME...OK, THANKS...WE KEEP ON OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

A BIT LATER, I MEET UP WITH AMBER AND CHIEF...BUT, WE WILL GET BACK TO THEM LATER.

I CONTINUED TO WALK SOUTH ON US 101 TOWARDS CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA, SOME 13 MILES AWAY.

WALKING FROM THE OREGON BORDER, THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH OF INTEREST THAT CAUGHT MY EYE FOR MY CAMERA, SO KEPT ON PAST AMBER'S PLACE FOR ANOTHER HOUR...OUT MORE THAN 10 MILES FROM SPIA...SOMETHING I SAID I WOULD NOT DO.

ABOUT 8 MILES FROM CRESCENT CITY, TURNED AROUND AND WALKED NEARLY TO AMBER'S HOUSE WHEN A YOUNG FELLOW IN A MUCH USED PICKUP TRUCK OFFERED ME A RIDE...HAD TO MOVE HIS STETSON (HAT) TO MAKE ROOM FOR MY FEET. HE STOPPED AFTER A COUPLE MILES...GOTTA SEE MY SISTER, AS HE PULLS INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE...NO PROBLEM; I GET OUT AND CONTINUE WALKING BACK TO SPIA, ANOTHER HOUR BACK TOWARDS OREGON.

AND WHO IS SITTING HUDDLED OVER A SMALL SMOKEY FIRE BUT MY WAYWARD WALKER WITH BACKPACK. I OPEN UP SPIA'S DOOR, PUT MY HAT INSIDE AND WALK OVER TO MY WALKER.

"LUKE", HE INTRODUCES HIMSELF...A BEARDED FELLOW ABOUT 38 YEARS OLD OR SO.

CAN GIVE YOU THE COFFEE MONEY NOW. WELL, I'M HEADING FOR BROOKINGS, OREGON AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD HELP ME GET THERE...WELL, I'M HEADING THE OTHER WAY...OH, WHAT THE HECK...SURE...LET'S PUT YOUR PACK INSIDE AND HOP IN...I'LL DRIVE YOU TO BROOKINGS.

"LUKE"...RECENTLY OUT OF THE MILITARY, WAS SCRUNCHED UP IN SPIA'S PASSENGER SEAT, HIS KNEES ABOUT EVEN WITH HIS NOSE...BEEN IN LOTS TIGHTER SEATS THAN THIS WHILE JUMPING OUT OF AIRPLANES...OH, YOU A SKY DIVER...NOT EXACTLY...JUMPED FOR UNCLE SAM OUT OF JUST ABOUT EVERY AIRPLANE THAT FLIES.

WHY? LUKE CHANGES THE SUBJECT.

DROP LUKE OFF AT THE CHEVRON STATION JUST SOUTH OF THE RIVER BRIDGE, HAND HIM HIS BACKBACK AND $5.00...YOU SURE YOU CAN DO THAT? NO PROBLEM...AS I HAND HIM A COLD BEER FROM SPIA'S FRIDGE...HAVE A GOOD MEAL AND STAY SAFE.

EYE CATCHING PHRASE: EASTER LILY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD...

MEET "CHIEF"

AMBER'S HOME.

BUT FOR THE RESTRAINT ENFORCED ONTO CHIEF BY AMBER, I WOULD NOW BE TRYING TO TYPE WITH ONE HAND.

WALKING ON US 101 ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF THE OREGON BORDER, COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE A YOUNG LADY CHOPPING WOOD. WALKED UP HER DRIVEWAY, STOPPING WELL BACK OF THE 5-FOOT HIGH FENCE AND INTRODUCED MYSELF.

PLEASE, COME NO CLOSER...MY DOG WILL BITE YOU.

AMBER AND I CHATTED FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO...AT A VERY DISCREET DOUBLE ARMS LENGTH DISTANCE BACK FROM CHIEF'S FENCE.

NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY...A LADY OUT CHOPPING WOOD FOR HEAT. MOST FOLKS THESE DAYS SIMPLY TURN UP THE THERMOSTAT.

YES, YOU MAY TAKE MY PHOTOGRAPH CHOPPING WOOD. I DO IT FOR A LIVING...I WORK AS A LOGGER OUT IN THE WOODS - POINTING OVER HER SHOULDER - ALONG WITH SOME OTHER WOMEN. WE HAVE A 64 YEAR OLD WHO CAN CROSS-CUT A LOG BY HERSELF QUICKER THAN ANY TWO OF US YOUNGER WOMEN.

HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE OLDER FOLKS.

(A CROSS-CUT IS A 8 - 10 FOOT LONG SAW WITH LARGE CUTTING TEETH AND HANDLES AT EACH END...INTENDED TO BE USED BY TWO WOODSMEN TO CUT NEWLY FALLEN TREES INTO PROPER LENGTHS - OFTEN SEEN IN COMPETITION AT FAIRS)

I'M A SINGLE MOM.

PLEASE FOLKS (CLICK CLICK); THAT PIECE OF WOOD ON THE RIGHT IS FLYING THRU THE AIR HAVING BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE PIECE FLYING THROUGH THE AIR TO AMBER'S RIGHT (OUR LEFT). THOSE TWO PIECES OF FLYING WOOD STARTED OUT AS A SINGLE PIECE STANDING EXACTLY WHERE AMBER'S AXE IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED INTO THE SOIL AMBER KNOWS HOW TO SPLIT A BLOCK OF WOOD !

AND TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT HER AXE...THAT IS THE REAL THING.

SO PROUD OF MY PANASONIC-DMC-ZS5...IT CAUGHT THOSE TWO PIECES OF WOOD ALMOST AS THEY LEFT AMBER'S AXE.

VERY MUCH WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH AMBER...CHIEF HAD OTHER IDEAS; SO I SAID MY GOODBYE'S...AMBER, LOOKING FORWARD TO GET ON FACEBOOK TO CHECK OUT SAM & ME...PROMISING TO KEEP TRACK OF US.

THIS IS A REDWOOD TREE. IT STANDS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM SPIA. THE TRUNK OF THIS TREE IS AT LEAST EIGHT (8) FEET IN DIAMETER...DISTANCE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER...AND IT IS NOT EVEN A BIG REDWOOD. IT WAS, HOWEVER, PROBABLY A RATHER OLD TREE WHEN CHRISTIANITY STARTED.

THE REDWOOD TREE IN THE PIC ABOVE IS ONE OF MANY SHOWN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH LINING A SMALL PATH NEXT TO US 101.

CLICK CLICK...THESE ARE THE NEEDLES (BRANCHES) OF THE REDWOOD TREE

CLICK CLICK...THIS IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE BARK OF THE REDWOOD TREE. THEY OFTEN LIVE THOUSANDS OF YEARS...NEARLY INDESTRUCTIBLE FROM INSECTS AND EVEN FOREST FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS BARK.

ANOTHER REDWOOD TREE.

TOMORROW, IF ALL GOES WELL, WE SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE VERY FAMOUS TOURIST SPOT OF "THE TREES OF MYSTERY"

THE TREES OF MYSTERY IS A GROVE OF VERY LARGE REDWOOD TREES. AS ONE DRIVES - OR WALKS - TO THE GROVE, A REALLY BIG PAUL BUNYAN AND HIS BLUE OX, "BABE", GREET EACH VISITOR.

NEAR BY IS A REDWOOD TREE THROUGH WHICH A TUNNEL HAS BEEN CUT. HAVING DRIVEN THIS ROUTE MANY TIMES SINCE ABOUT 1953, I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR THROUGH THAT TREE A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT IS NO LONGER ON THE MAIN US 101 HIGHWAY...HOPE I CAN FIND IT AGAIN.

WALKING THE FINAL 8 MILES INTO CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA, IS THIS 2 - MILE CATHEDRAL OF STATELY REDWOOD TREES.

I HAVE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE OF ST. PETERS IN ROME, THROUGH THE ARCH DI TRIUMPH, CRAWLED INTO THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM, WALKED THE WAY OF THE CROSS FROM THE WAILING WALL, AND STOOD BENEATH THE CROSS IN THE CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION...NOT TO MENTION CLIMBING ONTO THE MASSIVE STONES OF CHEOPS...AND A GOOD MANY MORE CLIMACTIC LIFE MOMENTS...

NONE GAVE ME MORE HUMBLING EXPERIENCE AS WALKING THROUGH THE ABOVE CATHEDRAL THIS AFTERNOON.

THESE ARE NOT ALL REDWOODS, BUT MANY ARE.

SPIA SAT HERE FOR OVER 4 HOURS DURING MY WALK INTO CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA. WHEN I RETURNED, HER DOOR TO THE "HOME" PORTION HAD BEEN FORCED TOP AND BOTTOM AND IS NOW BENT OPEN OVER ONE INCH...AND MUST BE REPAIRED TO KEEP OUT THE COLD AND RAIN. I HAVE STUFFED A TOWEL INTO THE OPENING FOR NOW.

WHOEVER DID THIS DID NOT GET INSIDE...THE LOCK AND LATCH WAS NOT OPENED.

A SHAME, BUT AS EVERYONE KNOWS, NOT EVERYONE IS TRUSTWORTHY.

DROVE THROUGH CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA AND COULD NOT FIND ANY WORTHWHILE REASON TO TAKE PICTURES...UNTIL ARRIVING AT THE MARINA.

SPIA IS PARKED IN SPACE #1 ABOUT 2 BLOCKS FROM THIS FLEET OF FISHING BOATS.

DAILY UPDATE: WALKED 35 MILES TODAY...COUNT 18 MILES

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: CREDIT 18 MILES @ $0.02 PER MILE = $0.36 FOR THE DAY.

A 5-DAY STORM FRONT REACHED ME AS I RETURNED TO SPIA UNDER THE WATER TOWER. PARKED ONE BLOCK FROM THE OCEAN NEXT TO THE MARINA, SPIA IS BEING BUFFETED BY HIGH WINDS AND RAIN AS I TYPE.

TOMORROW, WILL TRY TO GET SPIA'S DOOR FIXED, AND THEN, TIME PERMITTING, WALK THE 14 MILES TO THE TREES OF MYSTERY.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

THE PORTSIDE RV PARK IN THE HARBOR AREA OF BROOKINGS, OREGON, IS A "GOOD SAM" PARK. HAVE COMMENTED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT GOOD SAM PARKS...THIS ONE IS TOP NOTCH. FELIX AND HIS WIFE ANGELA RUN A TIGHT SHIP. EVERYTHING IS SPOTLESS. FELIX PERSONALLY ATTENDS TO PARKING EACH GUEST...MAKING CERTAIN THE "RIG" IS LEVEL AND ALL TUCKED IN FOR THE NIGHT.

ACTUALLY, A LARGE NUMBER OF GUESTS APPEAR TO BE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS. FELIX ESTIMATES LONG TERM RESIDENCE RUNS ABOUT $10.00 A DAY. I PAY $22.22 A NIGHT, WHICH INCLUDES 100% OF EFFICIENCIES.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND "GOOD SAM" PARKS FOR ANYONE WHO INTENDS TO EMBARK ON EXTENDED MOTOR HOME TRAVELS.

AFTER LAST NIGHT'S MEAL, JUST HAD TO INCLUDE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE # 1 CLAM CHOWDER IN WESTERN OREGON...THE "HUNGRY CLAM", LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF BROOKING'S HARBOR AREA...CROSS THE BRIDGE AND TAKE THE FIRST RIGHT.

VOODOO RESTAURANT AND "NIGHT CLUB", ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE SPIA IS PARKED. WOULD LIKE TO GO PARTAKE, BUT $$ ALLOWANCES WILL NOT PERMIT SUCH EXTRAVAGANCES...PERHAPS ANOTHER DAY.

HARRIET OPSAHL, OWNER OF THE OCEANSIDE DINER IS QUITE THE LADY IN QUITE THE RESTAURANT.

ENTERING HARRIET'S OCEANSIDE DINER AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF FELIX, I DID NOT EXPECT WHAT HAPPENED. WITHIN 30 SECONDS, A MENU AND HOT COFFEE WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF ME. ANOTHER MINUTE, I ORDERED MY BREAKFAST.

HARRIET, A 70 + SOMETHING YOUNG LADY WAS ALONE...NO ONE TO HELP HER.

WITHIN 3 MINUTES, MY STEAMING BREAKFAST WAS IN FRONT OF ME.

THREE SETS OF CLIENTS CAME IN ALMOST TOGETHER. I SAT AMAZED AS HARRIET WELCOMED EACH OF THEM, TOOK THEIR ORDER, AND ALL WERE SERVED - I SWEAR - WITHIN 4 MINUTES.

THE FOOD WAS BETTER THAN EXCELLENT.

HARRIET'S OCEANSIDE DINER IS ON THE LEFT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL (RIGHT TURN AFTER THE BRIDGE) BEFORE ENTERING THE PORT AREA.

OCEANSIDE DINER, BROOKINGS, OREGON

VIEW OF THE RIVER AND MARINA FROM THE BRIDGE...LOOKING WEST TOWARDS THE PACIFIC OCEAN

HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT FOLKS IN POLAND AND AUSTRALIA ARE READING SAM & ME. ONLY SEEMED REASONABLE TO INCLUDE SOME HOME-GROWN FAMILIARITY

OF COURSE, ONE WILL FIND DQ IN POLAND AND AUSTRALIA AND MOST EVERYWHERE ELSE AROUND THE WORLD.

ALL OTHER STATIONS - INCLUDING FRED MEYER, WERE CHARGING $3.53 + PER GALLON OF REGULAR GAS...SEEMED ONLY FAIR TO GIVE CONOCO A PLUG.

THIS IS THE ONLY ART OBJECT OF MR. BAHR I FOUND IN ALL OF BROOKINGS, OREGON. I DID WALK END TO END TWO TIMES LOOKING FOR MORE.

STOPPED A CITY POLICE, ASKING WHERE THE BEST SPOT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE LIGHTHOUSE.

...THERE IS NO LIGHTHOUSE IN BROOKINGS...NEAREST LIGHTHOUSE IS IN CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA.

SO ALL YOU CONFUSED FOLKS READING YESTERDAY'S BLOG...I GOOFED IN PUTTING MR. BAHR'S ART WORK LIGHTHOUSE IN BROOKINGS...IT IS IN CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

DOWNTOWN BROOKINGS, OREGON

SOME FOLKS CALL BROOKINGS, OREGON THE "BANANA BELT"...NOT SURPRISED

MANY MID TROPICAL PLANTS SEEM TO THRIVE IN BROOKINGS.

DONT'CHA JUST LOVE THESE FALSE-FRONT BUILDINGS

LAMP POSTS, FIRE PLUGS (HYDRANTS), ELECTRICAL BOXES, AND MANY OTHER CITY INSTALLATIONS THAT ARE INSTALLED NEAR A HILLSIDE OR STEEP BANK, HAVE RETAINING WALLS SIMILAR TO THE ONE ABOVE...

HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH A FEATURE IN ANY OTHER TOWN OR CITY.

THIS IS A PURSE SEINER...IT DRAGS A LARGE BOWL SHAPED NET - SOMETIMES AS DEEP AS 400 FEET DEEP - TO CATCH ALL SWIMMING CRITTERS.

THE NET IS RETRIEVED FROM THE SEA THROUGH THAT SLOPING SLOT IN THE STERN. THE "DESIRABLE" CRITTERS ARE SEPARATED AND DROPPED INTO LARGE UNDER-THE-DECK "HOLDS" (BIG BINS). "UNDESIRABLE" CRITTERS ARE PITCHED BACK INTO THE SEA.

THE MARINA, BROOKINGS, OREGON

THE PACIFIC OCEAN BEACH, BROOKINGS, OREGON...LOOKING NORTH WEST.

SAME BEACH...LOOKING SOUTH WEST...DISTANT HILLS ARE IN CALIFORNIA.

I WALKED TO THOSE HILLS THIS AFTERNOON...SEE PICS BELOW

HARBOR ENTRANCE, BROOKINGS, OREGON

NOTICE HOW CALM IT IS...NOT A SINGLE WAVE...NO WIND

ONLY THE 5TH DAY OF SUN SINCE BEGINNING OUR WALK.

HARBOR ENTRANCE LOOKING UP STREAM.

US COAST GUARD STATION, BROOKINGS, OREGON

SEA LIONS...THERE WERE SIX OF THESE GALS (ALL THE GUYS ARE AWAY IN THE BEARING SEA AT THE MOMENT) TAKING UP RESIDENCE ON A MARINA DOCK.

I WALKED TO WITHIN 15 FEET OF THE BIG BEASTS - EACH WEIGHS CLOSE TO 1,000 POUNDS AND ARE UP TO 10 FEET LONG

THIS LADY WAS CONSTANTLY SCRATCHING HER HEAD WITH HER FLIPPER.

STILL SCRATCHING HER HEAD.

THEY PAID ABSOLUTELY NO ATTENTION TO ME.

REMEMBER THE SEA LION CAVES...WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE NEAR THE SEA LIONS...BEING NO EXPERT ON THE SUBJECT, WILL OFFER NO COMMENT.

THEY LOOK VERY MUCH AT HOME.

IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, SEA LIONS ALSO VISIT TO CHOMP THE SALMON. A NUMBER OF SEA LIONS ARE CAPTURED, TAGGED AND RETURNED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...

IN ONLY A FEW DAYS THE SAME SEA LIONS ARE BACK IN SEATTLE, READY FOR DIN DIN.

THIS FELLOW LIVES ON THAT SAIL BOAT. I HAD A 1-HOUR CHAT WITH HIM. HIS NAME IS JONATHAN MAYNARD...YES, SAME LAST NAME AS MINE.

JONATHAN AND I HAVE QUITE SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES AND HERITAGES. HIS DAD IS FROM BRITTANY (FRENCH COAST NEXT TO ENGLAND). HE WAS RAISED IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA. WE HAVE COMMON KNOWLEDGE OF MANY PEOPLE AND EVENTS.

AS I FINALLY EXCUSED MYSELF TO GO WALK TO CALIFORNIA...JOHATHAN WAS STILL TALKING LOUDER AND LOUDER AS I CLIMBED THE WALKWAY FROM THE MARINA DOCKS AND WALKED AWAY.

JONATHAN LOST IS WIFE IN 1989 AND HAS BEEN ALONE ON HIS LIVE-ABOARD SINCE THEN. I WOULD DEARLY LOVE TO SPEND A WEEK OR MORE WITH JONATHAN...HE AND I COULD VERY WELL BE RELATED.

A REPLICA IN THE FRONT YARD OF A PRIVATE HOME IN BROOKINGS, OREGON

OCEAN VIEW HOMES SOUTH OF BROOKINGS, OREGON, ALONG US 101 ON MY WALK THE 7 MILES TO THE CALIFORNIA BORDER THIS AFTERNOON.

OREGON POSTS THIS SIGN ALL THE WAY FROM ASTORIA, OREGON TO THE CALIFORNIA BORDER.

AND HERE WE ARE...AT THE CALIFORNIA BORDER.

PLACES WE WILL VISIT IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO

"BUG CHECK", AS THE LOCALS IN OREGON CALL IT.

LOCATED A HALF MILE INSIDE THE CALIFORNIA BORDER, WALKED TO THE ACTUAL STATION AND CHATTED WITH THE TWO YOUNG LADIES MANNING THE FORT.

THEY GAVE ME A NEW CALIFORNIA ROAD MAP AND ASKED FOR A SAM & ME CARD WHEN WE DRIVE THRU IN THE MORNING.

I LEAVE OREGON IN THE MORNING WITH A HEAVY HEART AND SPIRIT FULL OF MEMORIES FROM THE MANY WONDERFUL FOLKS ...NEW FRIENDS...I HAVE MET.

FEEL I HAVE LEFT A BIT OF ME WITH EACH...AND HAVE WITH ME A BIT OF EACH GOING ON INTO THE FUTURE.

WISH ALL WELL

TODAY UPDATE: WALKED THIS MORNING THRU & 5 MILES NORTH OF BROOKINGS AND BACK...THIS AFTERNOON TO THE CALIFORNIA BORDER (RECEIVED A RIDE FROM PHILIP BACK TO SPIA - I MEAN WITHIN THREE FEET OF SPIA -)

17 MILES TOTAL; COUNT 12 MILES

SEE YOUR IMPACT.ORG: CREDIT 12 MILES @ $0.02 PER DAY = $0.24 FOR THE DAY.